Flint enforces blight through Chapter 31, Article III of the Flint Code of Ordinances (Blight Violations), enacted under the Michigan Home Rule City Act (MCL 117.4l and 117.4q). Section 31-81 designates specific Flint Code provisions (including §§ 30-3, 30-7, 30-8, 30-9, 30-11, 30-12, 30-13, 30-15, 30-30.1, 39-1, 39-5, 39-7, 39-9, 39-10, 39-32, 39-43 and 39-43.1, plus §§ 11-1 and 24-1 where they relate to exterior building condition or property maintenance) as 'blight violations' adjudicated as civil infractions by the City's Administrative Hearings Bureau (the 'Blight Court'). Maximum civil fine is $10,000 per violation under MCL 117.4q(7); no incarceration is available before that bureau.
Flint is one of the most aggressive blight-enforcement cities in Michigan as a direct legacy of the 2011-2014 emergency-manager period and the resulting Genesee County Land Bank inventory. The statutory chassis is the Michigan Home Rule City Act at MCL 117.4l (general blight authority) and MCL 117.4q (administrative hearings bureau authority for cities of 7,500+). Locally, Chapter 31 Article III of the Flint Code (Blight Violations) implements both, with Section 31-81 defining the universe of designated blight provisions: §§ 30-3, 30-7, 30-8, 30-9, 30-11, 30-12, 30-13, 30-15, 30-30.1 (general nuisance, dilapidated and dangerous structures), §§ 39-1, 39-5, 39-7, 39-9, 39-10, 39-32, 39-43, 39-43.1 (illegal dumping, refuse, weeds and grass, and related Chapter 39 conditions), and §§ 11-1 and 24-1 where they relate to exterior building condition or property maintenance. Day-to-day enforcement is performed by Neighborhood Safety Officers within the Flint Police Department, who issue civil-infraction tickets returnable to the Administrative Hearings Bureau (Blight Court). The bureau may not impose incarceration and may not levy a civil fine in excess of $10,000 per violation under MCL 117.4q(7); a first-time offender at an owner-occupied dwelling may have a fine waived under MCL 117.4q(15) if the violation has been corrected. Unpaid civil fines or costs become a lien on the property after 30 days if recorded with the Genesee County Register of Deeds (MCL 117.4q(11)). At the structural end, Flint refers severely deteriorated and tax-foreclosed parcels to the Genesee County Land Bank Authority (created under the Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Act, Act 258 of 2003, MCL 124.751 et seq.), which has demolished more than 10,000 blighted structures across Flint and Genesee County since 2004, including 1,600+ under a 2022 aggressive demolition initiative funded by $16M City ARPA, $8M County ARPA, $10M Mott Foundation, $4.5M Land Bank/Treasurer, and $1M Congressional Community Project Funding.
Civil-infraction tickets are issued by Neighborhood Safety Officers under Chapter 31 Article III and returnable to the Blight Court. The bureau may impose a civil fine up to $10,000 per violation under MCL 117.4q(7) (no incarceration). After 30 days of nonpayment the City may record a lien against the property with the Genesee County Register of Deeds under MCL 117.4q(11) and pursue collection by the means available to enforce a court judgment. A first-time offender at an owner-occupied dwelling may receive a waiver under MCL 117.4q(15) if the underlying condition has been corrected. Repeat violations and structural unsafe-building conditions are referred to the Building & Safety Office for vacate, repair, or demolish orders; demolitions and abatements are cost-lien-backed against the property under Michigan's tax-foreclosure framework, and severely deteriorated tax-foreclosed parcels flow to the Genesee County Land Bank under MCL 124.751 et seq.
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